Guide

Results and appeals

Two different things get called “the appeal”, and they run on different rules: challenging how your exam was scored, and challenging a denied license application. Since April 2026 the first one has an eligibility threshold that rules most candidates out.

When results arrive

CBP emails Exam Results Letters within two to three weeks of the exam date. Six to eight weeks is repeated all over the web — including in our own notes until we checked — and it is wrong. Plan on hearing quickly.

That changes the retake calculation. Sit in late October, know by mid-November, and the April registration window is still comfortably ahead. There is no reason to pause studying while you wait.

Challenging your exam score

If you are eligible, the deadlines are fixed:

• First appeal — no later than 60 days from the date your Exam Results Letter was sent.
• Second appeal — no later than 60 days from the date of the First Appeal Results Letter.

An appeal turns on a single argument: that the answer you gave is the best answer under the designated references as they read on exam day. That is a citation argument — which is why the provision behind each answer is worth noting even after you leave the test centre, and why every explanation here names its own.

If your license application is denied

This chain is in the regulations. 19 CFR 111.17 gives three stages, each with a 60-calendar-day window:

1. 1. Executive Director, Office of Trade60 calendar days from the denial

   File additional information or arguments in writing in support of the application. You may also request to appear in person, by telephone, or by other acceptable means.

2. 2. Executive Assistant Commissioner60 calendar days from that affirmation

   If the Executive Director affirms the denial, request any further review the Executive Assistant Commissioner considers appropriate.

3. 3. Court of International Trade60 calendar days from the decision date

   If the Executive Assistant Commissioner affirms, the decision may be appealed to the CIT, provided the action is commenced inside the window.

Why applications get denied

Passing the exam is one requirement among several. 19 CFR 111.16(b) lists grounds that include, but are not limited to:

• any cause that would justify suspension or revocation under §111.53;
• failure to meet any requirement in §111.11;
• failure to establish business integrity and financial responsibility;
• failure to establish good character and reputation;
• willful misstatement or omission of pertinent facts in the application or interview;
• conduct deemed unfair or detrimental in commercial transactions;
• a reputation imputing criminal, dishonest, or unethical conduct;
• any other relevant information uncovered during the background investigation.

Common questions

When do Customs Broker License Exam results come out?

CBP emails Exam Results Letters within two to three weeks of the exam date. That is CBP's stated practice rather than a period fixed by regulation, but it is far quicker than the six-to-eight weeks widely repeated online.

Can I appeal a failing exam score?

Only if you scored within three questions of passing. From the April 2026 sitting onward CBP applies an appeals threshold: you must have scored 57 or more out of 80 to appeal at all, and you may appeal up to four questions. At 56 or below there is no appeal route.

How long do I have to file a CBLE appeal?

First appeals are due no later than 60 days from the date the Exam Results Letter was sent. If that appeal is decided against you, a second appeal is due no later than 60 days from the date of the First Appeal Results Letter.

What happens if my license application is denied?

19 CFR 111.17 sets a three-stage review, each with its own 60-calendar-day window: first the Executive Director, Office of Trade; then the Executive Assistant Commissioner; then the Court of International Trade. Missing a window ends the chain.

Why was my license application denied even though I passed?

Passing the exam is one requirement of several. 19 CFR 111.16(b) lists grounds for denial including failure to meet any requirement in 111.11, failure to establish business integrity and financial responsibility, failure to establish good character and reputation, willful misstatement or omission in the application, and information uncovered during the background investigation.

How long is my passing grade good for if I have to reapply?

Three years. 19 CFR 111.11(a)(4) requires the passing grade to have been attained within the 3-year period before the license application is submitted.

Licence-denial deadlines from Title 19 CFR; results timing, the appeals threshold and the 60-day appeal deadlines from CBP’s CBLE pages, verified 20 July 2026. Both are works of the U.S. government (17 U.S.C. §105). Independent study product; not affiliated with CBP — your own Results Letter governs your dates.